The Sunshine Chronicles synthesizes the latest commentary, news, and innovations in the world of health, wellness, social consciousness and sustainability. It encourages personal accountability and awareness.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

God Save The Bears - Plea to the Queen

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is having one bear of a time on her visit to the U.S. A PETA member in a bear costume and holding a “God Save the Bears” sign is following her around to various cities and events including most recently the Kentucky Derby. The campaign is intended to urge the Queen to switch to faux fur for the Buckingham Palace Guard’s hats.

It can take one bear’s entire hide to make just one guard’s headpiece. The skins come from Canadian black bears who are often shot several times before they die. Some escape the hunters and bleed to death. When mother bears are killed, orphaned cubs are left behind to starve.

“We love pomp and circumstance as much as anyone, but not when the ceremony causes baby bears to be orphaned when their mothers are shot for hats,” says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “No tradition on Earth can justify cruelty.”

PETA Europe supporters including Sir Roger Moore, Twiggy, and Hayley Mills are supporting the ban on bear fur in The Queen’s Guards headwear. Will the queen comprise formality for the sake of saving animals or is this just another radical campaign on PETA’s part? We can’t be sure, but choose to air on the side of awareness, however that translates for the Queen. For more information, check out UnbearableCruelty.com